Can the scale tool show me the real size of the object instead of a 1 - 0 scale?
Are you looking for the Dimensions in 3D view > Tool shelf (N)?



You can also change the units these values are represented in. By default they are displayed in "blender units" (BU), which are equal to meters. To do this, adjust the settings in Properties > Scene > Units:





I should also point out that the Scale of an object is not limited to 0-1. For example:


A scale of 1 = no distortion
A scale of 2 = twice as large
A scale of -1 = inverted


The Scale object property is really factor by which you can non-destructively shrink or stretch the object in any given axis without modifying the mesh.

It's useful to know this, as it can result in some unexpected results if you are unaware of what scale is actually doing. See my answer here for more detail.